Poll: How much percentage of Ethiopia's population is mixed?

(JT) After reading the article by Teshome Borago titled “Marginalization of Ethnic Ethiopians: assessing the past to confront the future," many readers contacted Jimma Times on the contentious topic of “Ethnic Ethiopians” or mixed Ethiopians. Most of the readers who contacted JT said that this is the first time the question of mixed Ethiopians has been raised in depth, especially about discrimination and their suffering under the current Ethiopian government’s policy of organizing provinces based on ethnicity (i.e., Oromia, Amhara, Tigray, Somali etc), which marginalizes millions of mixed Ethiopians.

However, some of the readers who contacted JT on email said that while the identity, heritage and history of mixed Ethiopians are in danger at the present moment, mixed people are still the most economically privileged or advantaged group in Ethiopia because their mixed heritage itself is due to the cultural and commercial integration that defined prosperous commercial towns of the horn of Africa for many centuries.

According to the article's author Mr. Borago, mixed “Ethnic Ethiopians” must respect the political aspirations of all groups like the OLF, UDJ, OFDM, EPRDF etc because they can relate with and sympathize with all groups. But the writer also said mixed “Ethnic Ethiopians” should not be discouraged and persecuted by other ethnic groups, and they should get recognition inside the current federalism in the country.

However, no one knows how much percentage of the Ethiopian population is in fact mixed “Ethnic Ethiopian.” And since the government, local traditions and society are said to discourage and force most mixed people to identify themselves with only their father-side descent, it might be impossible to formally quantify their numbers, even if one attempts to do so.

How much estimated percentage of the country do you think is mixed “Ethnic Ethiopian”?

VOTE ON THE RIGHT SIDE

Also discuss below whether mixed “Ethnic Ethiopians” should have the right for self-determination up to secession.

VOTING IS NOW CLOSED - FINAL RESULTS

- 21% Voters Said Below ten percent is mixed

- 10% Voters Said between ten-twenty percent is mixed

- 12% Voters Said between twenty-thirty percent is mixed

- 25% Voters Said between thirty-forty percent is mixed

- 11% Voters Said between forty-fifty percent is mixed

- 21% Voters Said Over fifty percent is mixed

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Added: January 19, 2011. 07:35 PM GMT

I'm not sure what is the official racial makeup of Ethiopians, but the women are extremely beautiful!

jumpy

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Added: August 05, 2010. 01:12 PM GMT

Except the Bete-Israeli Ethiopians

Majority of the Ethiopians are mixed except the Bete-Israeli Ethiopians. Even these people who for long lived in isolation are these days mixing.

Anonymous

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Added: May 11, 2010. 03:50 AM GMT

Country First

Inferiority complex is the reason of most Narrow Oromos. Though Oromos were the largest ethnic group in the country, followed by Amaharas, their contribution to Ethiopian history is almost nil!not even compared to very minority groups in SNNPR (Don't compare yourself with Amahara or Tigray). That is the reality. The shaping of modernization and nationalism which are worldwide accepted issues were responsibilities of the northern mostly the Semetic people: another reality! Let's get out of our narrow minds and learn from others and measure people by their ideas, not by their blood!

Anonymous

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Added: October 11, 2009. 05:20 PM GMT

I like it

the most interesting article of all time.Our political system must be based on. "ETHIOPIAWINET"

If our political leader is willing to do so we will see a change.

And also i would like to ask a scholars in this field please conduct a servay and show as haw mach mixed people lived in Ethiopia.

Asd of my own i am an Oromo and Amhara in my mother side and Amehara and Oromo in my father side this shows that most of all have the same condition.

This makes us beautful as much as befor.

And also this movement makes the country safe from disintegration and collapses the evil idea of TPLf /EPRDF/ AS A WHOLE.

brx

Anonymous

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Added: October 05, 2009. 07:45 AM GMT

what about others?

You have mentioned few of the mixed Oromo-amhara figures. but what about Mengistu haile meriam,General Tesfaye G/kidan and many other on high profile. I think the mixed ones are those to map the ethiopian history

Jido

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Added: August 25, 2009. 11:54 AM GMT

How to make Amhara elites accept and respect self-determination!

It is clear that only Amhara elites and few amharanized elites from other nations are against "ethnic" federalism and self-determination. Genuine "ethnic" federalism is the compromise solution for all nations in the region to live together achieving both national independence and regional integration. The position of Amhara elites regarding the federalism and self-determination made them to be not suitable to cooperate with the elites of other nations against TPLF regime. Amhara elites do prefer unconditional Ethiopian unity rather than self-determination as a precondition for the possible alliance to be forged between Amhara democratic forces and Oromo freedom fighters. Oromos tend to accept this precondition, only if Amhara elites also accept Oromos' precondition aka making Afaan Oromo the only working language of the federation instead of Amharinya. In a common hause aka NEW Ethiopia they suggest to build, the working language must be only Afaan Oromo. Will they then stay to be pro Ethiopian unity and anti ethnicity, even if Amharinya will be demoted to only local language of Amhara region and if Afaan Oromo will be promoted to be the only working language of the Ethiopian federation? I am sure they will not! In case they will stay to be pro ethiopianity and pro unity as they seem to believe now, let’s then try this NEW version of ethiopianity with Afaan Oromo instead of with Amharinya.

Read more:
http://www.ethioplanet.com/medrek

Ogina

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Added: August 23, 2009. 11:08 PM GMT

Ammazing!!!

Emperor Haile Selassie,Judge Birtukan Mideksa,Artist Tilahun Gesesse, artist Tedd Afro, are some of the high profile mixed Oromo Ethiopians. Let us hear what they say(Teddi and Birtukan for example). Do not worry Wayyane wants to separate Tigray, but I am 100% sure that Oromo will never allow thes tigrians to be separated. Why, because Oromo wants only rule Ethiopia as a country of Oromo and others not as a country of only Amhara. Period!!!!!

Anonymous

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Added: August 23, 2009. 05:06 PM GMT

I wonder Hailesellasie is mixed Ethiopian! I couldn't believe,indeed. My issue is why are we raising the issue at this juncture the notion of ethnic hybridization at this juncture? We have to apparently analyze and express out our fear. To my humble understanding, it is the flourishing of Oromoo struggle inside and outside which id God intended and inevitable. I am to stress that the Oromoo struggle is for Oromoo people primarily and the rest Ethiopians later. The oromoo struggle , in any way, couldn't affect, the Ethiopian unity. Let me take an example, OLF, the oldest and strongest of all Oromoo organization is struggling for OROmoo self determination,to push out from Woyane regime. The others like OPC, OFDM also share the same tenet. Then after, it is The Oromoo people( Pure and mixed) that can decide the fate of Oromoo liberation and independence from Ethiopia or Federation of Ethiopia based on poplar referendum. It is the propaganda against Oromoo people the Woyanne and other are advocating that the Oromoo organizations dismantle Ethiopian Unity.

We shouldn't forget that tolerance and hospitability are originated from God given Oromoo people.

What is more important here, I think, is changing the attitude of other Ethiopians towards Oromoo people, which is partly originated from lack of awareness and backwardness on one hand, and he Woyane and neftegna propaganda on the other. I couldn't imagine Ethiopian unity without Oromoo unity and Oromoo self determination' any thing that encroach these inevitably affect Ethiopian unity.
Besides, the mixed and the entire Ethiopians, like Burtukan, Lidetu, who have negative perspectives and fear towards Oromoo people in general and Oromoo opposition parties in particular should be shaped parties.

whether we like or nor The Oromoo Self determination is inevitable in the near future; and the question of Ethiopian federation and Oromoo independence is vested on the hands of Oromoo people in side and in diaspora.

Anonymous

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Added: August 22, 2009. 08:46 PM GMT

It is very tough to argue about ethnically mixed people in Ethiopia in 21 century. Instead it is better to talk about how we can bring a peaceful environment where everyone can live freely and enjoy equally the resources of the country. It is not a crime to be born from two different ethnics rather it is biologically the most appreciated reproduction system. Especially, when it comes to Oromo ethnic one gets marriage with the person he/she is in love. It indicates that Oromo ethnic is not conservative but free and advanced society beyond its surrounding environment.

Tessegra

Tessegra

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